True grit: Loeb lands fourth world title

A podium place for the Citroën driver Sébastien Loeb on the Wales Rally GB has allowed the Frenchman to seal his fourth consecutive World Rally Championship, equalling the record set by the legendary Finn Tommi Makinen eight years ago.

Loeb, above, started the event six points ahead of his title rival Marcus Gronholm, and he had to finish in fifth place or higher to guarantee himself the title. Despite three days of thick fog and heavy rain, Loeb kept his composure through the forests of south Wales to finish third just behind Gronholm.

"This has been the toughest title fight of my life," said Loeb, who fought back from a 13-point deficit to Gronholm in the middle of the campaign "There were many times that it could have been over. Marcus has been the biggest and best rival I have known."

It was a fitting tribute to the 39-year-old Finn, who ended his career in the British event after seven years at the top of the sport, during which he claimed two world championships in 2000 and 2002 as well as 30 rally wins. "It was a very tough decision to stop, but I wanted to go when I was still competitive," said the Ford driver. "To finish my career fighting for the championship is a fantastic way to retire."

Gronholm's final public engagement for Ford will be at the Race of Champions in Wembley Stadium on December 16, whereas Loeb will end his season by testing a Renault R27 formula one car at the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France on December 5.

Meanwhile, Gronholm's Ford team-mate Mikko Hirvonen took the event honours after a faultless drive throughout all three days. The 27 year-old will now step up to the No1 Ford seat vacated by Gronholm. "It's certainly a tough job, but I'm ready for it," said Hirvonen, who is likely to be partnered by the young Finn Jari-Matti Latvala next year. Latvala, driving a privately entered Ford Focus WRC, won 10 of the 17 stages despite losing time when his wipers broke in a downpour on Friday night

Britain's only full-time driver in the rally, Matthew Wilson, finished sixth overall in another private Ford, a personal best result for his home event.

· This article was amended on Monday December 17 2007. We referred to the sporting event won by Sebastien Loeb as Rally Great Britain; we should have said Wales Rally GB, which has been the name of the event since 2003 when the Welsh Assembly became its title sponsor. This has been corrected.

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About this article

Rallying: True grit Loeb lands fourth world title

This article appeared on p16 of the Sport section of the Guardian
on Sunday 2 December 2007.
It was published on
the Guardian website
at 07.24 EST on Monday 3 December 2007.
It was last modified at 07.24 EST on Monday 17 December 2007.
It was first published at 07.24 EST on Monday 17 December 2007.